[Effectiveness of donor selection in a blood bank]

Transfusion safety in Mexico depends on 2 essential pillars: The proper clinical selection of donors and the effective application of screening tests established in current regulations. Among these tests, it is included mandatory detection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), as well as Trypanosoma cruzi and Treponema pallidum, all considered highly relevant pathogens due to their potential for bloodborne transmission and their clinical impact. Each year, thousands of people in the country acquire HCV, HBV, or HIV infections, and a significant proportion develop chronic complications that can lead to death. Given that current regulations have not been updated since 2012 and the proposed 2024 revision has not yet been approved, it is crucial to know which viruses might be present in apparently healthy donors despite the screening tests already performed on them. In this context, in this opinion article the effectiveness of donor selection and screening strategies was analyzed using the findings of an international collaborative study that analyzed pooled samples through massive parallel sequencing. Encouragingly, no traces of HIV, HBV, or HCV were detected, which suggests a favorable outlook for transfusion safety and supports the effectiveness of the procedures implemented at the National Medical Center's Blood Bank.